Join GLAAD in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to Commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance

On November 20th, in observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance, world will pause to remember those we have lost to anti-transgender violence. According to estimates from international monitoring groups, there were 265 cases of anti-transgender murders reported from November 15th 2011 to November 14th 2012. Here in the US, there have been more than 25 cases of reported violence against transgender individuals over the past year, most of whom were trans women of color.

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the those lost to anti-trasgender violence that year and began an important memorial that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. GLAAD has put together a resource kit to provide you more informatino about Transgender Day of Remembrance.

In lead up to TDOR, GLAAD has been sharing the stories that highlight the resilience and achievements of everyday transgender Americans, like Noah Alvarez, Rev. Jay Wilson, and Gretta Estrada, as part Transgender Awareness Week , and, as a result, both mainstream and LGBT media are paying closer attention to the continued challenges trans people face when trying to participate fully in their communities.

In commemoration for TDOR, GLAAD staffers and volunteers will participate in memorial ceremonies in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. If you are interested in participating in Transgender Day of Remembrance, we encourage you to visit www.transgenderdor.org to find an event in your city. If you are the organizer of an event, please submit it to transgenderdor@gmail.com

About GLAAD

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBT acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love.more about GLAAD >>